COMMANDOS ATTACK IN MUMBAI

Indian forces go after terrorists at Jewish center

Friday, November 28, 2008

BY RAMOLA TALWAR BADAM

Associated Press

MUMBAI, India -- Security forces this morning assaulted a
Jewish center in Mumbai where Muslim militants were believed
holed up with possible hostages. Black-clad commandos
dropped from an Indian helicopter as sharpshooters opened
fire on the five-story building.

The attack came as Indian commandos scoured two luxury
hotels room by room for survivors and holed-up militants --
more than a day after a chain of attacks across India's
financial center by suspected Muslim militants left at least
119 people dead.

The well-coordinated strikes by small bands of gunmen
starting Wednesday night left the city shell-shocked, but
the sporadic gunfire and explosions at the Taj Mahal and
Oberoi hotels dwindled overnight, indicating the siege might
be winding down.

At the headquarters of the ultra-orthodox Jewish outreach
group Chabad Lubavitch, a commando assault began shortly
after dawn following a tense night in which six trucks of
soldiers had been brought in to surround the building.

Snipers stationed in buildings opposite the center began
the attack, with sustained fire on the building as at least
nine commandos lowered themselves by rope onto the roof from
a circling Indian air force helicopter.

Security forces searched the rooms at the hotels -- two
of the top gathering spots for the Mumbai elite -- but there
were no gunbattles or blasts. Commandos had spent much of
yesterday bringing out hostages, trapped guests and corpses
from the hotels in small groups while firefighters battled
flames that erupted. The fires were out by this morning.

State officials said 119 people had died and 288 were
injured in the attacks.

The motive for the onslaught was not immediately clear,
but Mumbai has frequently been targeted in terrorist attacks
blamed on Islamic extremists, including a series of bombings
in July 2006 that killed 187 people.

Indian media reports said a previously unknown group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen claimed responsibility in e-mails to several media outlets. The Deccan is a region in southern India that was traditionally ruled by Muslim kings....